Endless rope and method of making same

ABSTRACT

An endless rope includes a core portion woven by multiple strands, and having a first end and a second end connected to the first end of the core portion. An outer portion is coated on an outer periphery of the core portion. The outer portion includes an enlarged end integrally continually woven from the second end for receiving the first end of the core portion. The enlarged end is integrally continually woven to form the outer portion of the endless rope and ended with a distal end connected to the enlarged end of the outer portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a rope, and more particularly to an endless rope and the method of making same.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] A conventional endless rope in accordance with the prior art shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B comprises a rope (8) with two opposite ends and a sleeve (81) for receiving and connecting the two opposite ends of the rope (8) to form the conventional endless rope when the sleeve (81) is clamped and transfigured.

[0005] The sleeve (81) is provided to receive the two opposite ends of the rope (8) such that the sleeve (81) must have a diameter greater than that of the rope (8). As usual, the sleeve (81) is made of metal material so that the sleeve (8) is hard to be circled to correspond to a curvature of the endless rope. Consequently, the conventional endless rope will cause an error or provide a bad accuracy when used as a belt for driving a rotating element. Furthermore, the sleeve (81) is clamped and transfigured for clamping the two opposite ends of the rope (8) such that the ends of the rope (8) may detach from the sleeve (81) when loading a greater pull force.

[0006] With reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B that show another conventional endless rope in accordance with the prior art, the conventional endless rope comprises a rope (9) with two opposite ends each having a slanting section (91, 92). The two slanting sections (91, 92) of the rope (9) are complementary relative to each other. The two opposite ends of the rope (9) are connected to each other to form the endless rope when the two slanting sections complementally abut each other and are securely coated by rubber.

[0007] The opposite ends of the convention endless rope are connected by rubber such that the conventional endless rope may have a unity curvature. However, the rubber is coated on the outer periphery of the rope (9) such that the connect portion of the conventional endless rope has a diameter greater than that of the rope (9). Consequently, the conventional endless rope will cause an error or provide a bad accuracy when used as a belt for driving a rotating element and the ends of the rope (9) may detach from each other when loading a greater pull force.

[0008] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantages of the conventional endless ropes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The main objective of the present invention is to provide an improved endless rope that has a good connection and can be used well as a belt for driving a rotating element.

[0010] To achieve the objective, the endless rope in accordance with the present invention comprises a core portion woven by multiple strands, and having a first end and a second end connected to the first end of the core portion. An outer portion is coated on an outer periphery of the core portion. The outer portion includes an enlarged end integrally continually woven from the second end for receiving the first end of the core portion. The enlarged end is integrally continually woven to form the outer portion of the endless rope and ended with a distal end connected to the enlarged end of the outer portion.

[0011] The method of making the endless rope in accordance with the present invention comprises the following steps.

[0012] A: Multiple strands extend through a rotating shuttle to weave a core portion of the endless rope. The length of the core portion is equal to an average value of the length of the circumscribed circle and the inscribed circle of the endless rope.

[0013] B: The core portion has a first end inserted into a second end of the core portion.

[0014] C: An outer portion is integrally and continually woven from the second end of the core portion and forms an enlarged end for receiving the first end of the core portion.

[0015] D: The enlarged end is continually woven to form the outer portion that fully coats on an outer periphery of the core portion and has a distal end connected to enlarged end of the outer portion.

[0016] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017]FIG. 1 is a flow chart of the method for making an endless rope in accordance with the present invention;

[0018]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an endless rope in accordance with the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 3 is a partially side plan view of the endless rope in FIG. 2;

[0020]FIG. 4 is a partially cross-sectional view of the endless rope in FIG. 3 along line 4-4;

[0021]FIG. 5 is partially side plan view of another embodiment of the endless rope in accordance with the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a conventional endless rope in accordance with the prior art;

[0023]FIG. 6B is an exploded perspective view of the conventional endless rope in FIG. 6A;

[0024]FIG. 7A is a perspective view of another conventional endless rope in accordance with the prior art; and

[0025]FIG. 7B is a partially cross-sectional view of the conventional endless rope in FIG. 7A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] Referring to the drawings and initially to FIG. 1, a method for making an endless rope (2) in accordance with the present invention comprises the following steps.

[0027] A: Multiple strands (10) extend through a rotating shuttle (1) to weave a core portion (21) of the endless rope. The length of the core portion (21) is equal to an average value of the length of the circumscribed circle and the inscribed circle of the endless rope (2).

[0028] B: The core portion (21) has a first end (211) inserted into a second end (212) of the core portion (21).

[0029] C: An outer portion (22) is integrally and continually woven from the second end (212) of the core portion (21) and forms an enlarged end (221) for receiving the first end (211) of the core portion (21).

[0030] D: The enlarged end (221) is continually woven to form the outer portion (22) that fully coats on an outer periphery of the core portion (21) and has a distal end (222) connected to enlarged end (221) of the outer portion.

[0031] The endless rope (2) made by the above method comprises a core portion (21) that is woven by multiple strands (10) and an outer portion (22) coated on an outer periphery of the core portion (21). The core portion (21) includes a first end (211) and a second end (212) connected to the first end (211) of the core portion (21). The outer portion (22) includes an enlarged end (221) integrally continually woven from the second end (212) for receiving the first end (211) of the core portion (21). The enlarged end (221) is integrally continually woven to form the outer portion (22) of the endless rope (2) and ended with a distal end (222) connected to the enlarged end (221) of the outer portion (22). Furthermore, the enlarged end (221) and the distal end (222) of the outer portion (22) can be glued to promote the connection between the enlarged end (221) and the distal end (222).

[0032] The outer portion (22) is integrally continually woven from core portion (21) and coated on the outer periphery of the core portion (21). Consequently, the outer portion (22) is securely sleeved on the core portion (21) due to the friction between the core portion (21) and the outer portion (22) when the outer portion (22) is woven.

[0033] The sleeve and the rubber of the conventional endless rope are unnecessary to the endless rope (2) that is made by the above method in accordance with the present invention. Consequently, the endless rope (2) in accordance with the present invention has an identical flexibility and the core portion (21) and the outer portion (22) are integrally woven such that the endless rope (2) of the present invention has no stress-centralizing phenomenon. Consequently, the endless rope (2) of the present invention can be used well as a belt for driving a rotating element and provide a good accuracy.

[0034] With reference to FIG. 5, the method in accordance with the present invention further comprises a sewing step for promoting the connection between the core portion (21) and the outer portion (22). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a zigzag stitch (3) is provided to the endless rope (2) along an axis of the core portion (21). After measuring, the zigzag stitch (3) can promote the connection between the core portion (21) and the outer portion (22) about thirty percent.

[0035] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An endless rope comprising: a core portion woven by multiple strands, the core portion including a first end and a second end connected to the first end of the core portion; and an outer portion coated on an outer periphery of the core portion, the outer portion including an enlarged end integrally continually woven from the second end for receiving the first end of the core portion, the enlarged end integrally continually woven to form the outer portion of the endless rope and ended with a distal end connected to the enlarged end of the outer portion.
 2. The endless rope as claimed in claim 1, wherein the enlarged end and the distal end of the outer portion are glued to promote the connection between the enlarged end and the distal end.
 3. The endless rope as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a zigzag stitch provided along an axis of the core portion for promoting the connection between the core portion and the outer portion.
 4. The endless rope as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a zigzag stitch provided along an axis of the core portion for promoting the connection between the core portion and the outer portion.
 5. A method for making an endless rope as claimed in claim 1 comprising the following steps: A: multiple strands extending through a rotating shuttle to weave a core portion of the endless rope, the length of the core portion equal to an average value of the length of the circumscribed circle and the inscribed circle of the endless rope; B: the core portion having a first end inserted into a second end of the core portion; C: an outer portion integrally and continually woven from the second end of the core portion and forming an enlarged end for receiving the first end of the core portion; and D: the enlarged end continually woven to form the outer portion that fully coats on an outer periphery of the core portion and has a distal end connected to enlarged end of the outer portion.
 6. The method as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a step of sewing to provide a zigzag stitch along an axis of the core portion for promoting the connection between the core portion and the outer portion. 